Varietal: White Vinifera Grapes
Torrontés: An alternative to the common whites
FREEI was particularly drawn to Torrontés because of the Muscat-like flavors, but another reason was because of the challenge it presents from a winemaking perspective . . .
Perfecting Pinot Grigio
MEMBERS ONLYPinot Grigio is everywhere, flooding every supermarket wine aisle and all over the wine lists at restaurants that don’t give much thought to their wine lists. It’s the single biggest (by volume) import category into the US. The annual crop in California has increased by 1000 percent in the last decade, positioning it second only
Pinot Blanc: A grape with an identity crisis
MEMBERS ONLYPinot Blanc — one of the offspring of Pinot Noir — is waiting for its 15 minutes of fame to come around.
Albariño/Alvarinho: The wine of Galicia
MEMBERS ONLYAlbariño/Alvarinho is the grape of the Spanish region of Galacia, and it’s catching on in the States too.
Müller-Thurgau: Germany’s other white grape
MEMBERS ONLYPrior to giving way to Riesling at the turn of the century, Müller-Thurgau was the most prominent white grape in Germany. It is still very popular as an everyday drinking wine enjoyed young.
The Many Shades of Muscat
MEMBERS ONLYMuscat is a complex family of grapes with a distinctive aroma tying them all together. There are hundreds of Muscat varieties, both white and red, which are used to make all styles of wine.
Symphony: 40 Years in the Making
MEMBERS ONLYSymphony is a white grape bred from Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris by Dr. Harold Olmo. Grown in California, Symphony grapes are found in many wine kits.
Crafting Chardonnay: Tips from the Pros
MEMBERS ONLYThere are many different techniques and styles to choose from when it comes to Chardonnay. Do you want a buttery, barrel-aged Chardonnay or a crisp, acidic one? When weighing your options, use this advice from two Chardonnay experts. Winemaker: Kristen Barnhisel, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, California Our Chardonnay is largely sourced from the Arroyo
Aligoté
MEMBERS ONLYI am writing this on an airplane on my way to Burgundy, the crossroads of France known for its great Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. But did you know that Burgundy has a lighter side? This is a little known variety that folklore says was proclaimed into obscurity by a King because he just happened
Sémillon
MEMBERS ONLYWine literature is essentially a snapshot in the history of wine as portrayed by that author. Have you ever received or purchased a book on wine, read it cover to cover, made note of a few interesting items and relegated it to a shelf somewhere in your house and forgotten about it? Then some day,
Viognier
FREEIn the 1960s, Viognier seemed to be an endangered grape, planted only in dwindling numbers in a pair of obscure redoubts in France, the shrinking Condrieu region and the one-winery Château-Grillet AOC.
Chardonnay
FREEChardonnay is one of the world’s most popular wine grapes, as evidenced by widespread plantings in France, Australia, South Africa, South America and the United States. The grape is thought to have
Riesling Lessons of the Mosel Masters
MEMBERS ONLYGerman wines, particularly great German Rieslings, are unlike any other wines in the world, with unmatched fruit intensity, striking minerality and remarkable aging potential. Once you’re hooked, you’re hooked, and soon the urge to make your own becomes a fixation. Here are some simple steps to get you there: Find a 500-year old cellar, preferably
Cool Refreshing Riesling
FREEIn her exhaustive survey of grapes and grapegrowing, Vines, Grapes and Wines, Jancis Robinson ends the chapter on Riesling with a summary that’s all-too-true: “Unbeatable quality; indisputably aristocratic. Ludicrously unfashionable.” Recognized by
Gewurztraminer: Varietal Focus
FREELike the proverbial little girl with the curl, when it’s good, Gewürztraminer is very good; but when it’s bad, it’s awful. This noble white variety with the pinkish grapes can produce spectacular
Riesling: Varietal Focus
MEMBERS ONLYA phrase we’ve often heard in recent years is, “A. B. C. — anything but Chardonnay.” As many consumers set down the Chard and start searching for alternative white wines — and as commercial grape growers try to stay up-to-date with the fickle consumer’s wants — the other premier white varieties are gaining status in
Sauvignon Blanc: Varietal Focus
FREEDuring the mid 1980s in New Zealand, when the Cloudy Bay Winery captured the attention of the world marketplace with its version of Sauvignon Blanc, a new era was born. Today, many
Great Gewurztraminer from Grapes
MEMBERS ONLYWhy make a wine you can’t even pronounce? If you’ve ever tasted a Gewürztraminer, you already know the answer. At its finest, this most distinctive white wine has an exotic, spicy flavor with hints of ginger and cinnamon. It is full-bodied, dry and slightly fruity. Gewürztraminer grapes are as unique as the wine. The origin